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An order of the Filicinae consisting entirely of large fleshy tropical ferns, commonly known as giant ferns. There are about 100 species in 6 genera. In most species the sporophyte consists of a broad short stem giving rise to large compound fronds. The sporangia are formed on the abaxial surface of fertile fronds that otherwise resemble the sterile fronds. The spores germinate to form a thallose gametophyte, somewhat similar to a liverwort, which may be quite long lived. The Marattiales have a rich fossil record going back to the Carboniferous.
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